Dispenser



Jan. 17, 1956 c. L.. voGLEsANG DISPENSER Filed June 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CLEM L. VoaLssA/VG Jan. 17, 1956 c. voGLEsANG DISPENSER Filed June 1'7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mam@ 4free/Vey United States Patent-O DISPENSER Clem L. Vogiesang, Cleveland, @his Application June 17, 1953, Serial No. 362,270

6 Claims. (ci. zzz- 246) i This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularly to the type employed for dispensing finely divided materials such as powdered or granulated soap or the like. It is one of the objects of this invention to construct a dispenser for powdered or granular materials by which a stored mass of such materials may be dispensed therefrom in a free iiowing condition and in predetermined quantities.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means in a dispensing apparatus operable coincident with the dispensing of the material therefrom to agitate the material within the dispenser and particularly in the area immediately adjacent the outlet.

Another object of the invention is the provision 'of dispensing apparatus for powdered or granular materials which is simple of construction and which is easy to adjust, maintain and operate.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a dispenser of the type defined which is provided with means to preclude access to the interior of the dispenser by unauthorized persons and to prevent unauthorized readjustment of the dispensing means.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is provided with means operable by the dispensing valve to prevent compacting and adherence of the material to the interior walls of the device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an easily adjustable dispensing valve mechanism by means of which a predetermined measured amount of material may be dispensed from the apparatus at each operation of the valve and in which said valve can easily be adjusted to vary the mass dispensed at each operation of the valve.

A still further object of the invention is a dispensing device of the character described from which the materials contained therein may be dispensed freely and without danger of collecting and compacting around the dispensing valve of the device.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will becorne more apparent as the following description of an embodiment thereof progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference char acters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a device embodying my invention, said device being il1ustrated as being adapted to be mounted on a wall by means of a suitable bracket;

Figure 2 is a Vertical central section through the apparatus, the valve stem or plunger being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a detailed exploded View of the top portion of the dispenser container showing the cover removed;l

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the ICC lower part of the dispenser showing in more detail the agitator and valve means and illustrating how the valve may be adjusted to dispense predetermined quantities of material from the container upon operation of the valve;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the top portion lof the container showing more specically a means of locking the top on the container against unauthorized removal;

Figure 7 is a top view looking down into the container with the top cover removed and illustrates a form of locking means employed to lock the cover on the container against unauthorized removal;

Figure 8 is a ltransverse section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a bottom plan View of one of the valve members shown in Figure 5; and

vFig` 1G is a section taken on line 10e-10 of Figure 9.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the device shown therein as embodying my invention is preferably of a type which may be mounted on a substantially vertical wall for dispensing in a downward direction a measured quantity of finely divided material such as powdered or granular soap or the like by merely exerting an upward force against the lower end of the valve rod and then releasing such force to permit the valve rod to resume its lowermost position.

The dispenser includes primarily a container for the finely divided material to be dispensed which is indicated at 1 and which preferably is of cylindrical cross section terminating in an open upper end 2 and a converging lower discharge portion indicated generally at 3. The container may be provided with an elongated window W for observing the level of the material therein. The dispenser when mounted on a wall 4 by means of an inverted U-shaped bracket 5 is secured on the shank of a bolt or stud 6 carried by the back plate 7 of the bracket, the free end of the stud 6 passing through an opening in the container 1. A washer or bushing 8 embraces the threaded end of the stud t and engages the inner wall of the container 1. A Cotter pin 9 passes through a transverse opening in the end of the stud 6 and I have provided a nut l@ on the threaded shank of the stud which is adapted to be bound against the bracket wall 11 engaging the outer surface of the container 1 by turning the nut in a clockwise direction. In this manner the device is rigidly supported on the bracket which of course is attached to the wall by means of Wall screws 12.

The open upper end of the container 1 is provided with a close fitting top or cover 13 which has a flanged portion 14 fitting down snugly and overlying a band 15 which is secured to the inner wall of the container 1 as at 16 and projects upwardly beyond the open end of the container, as shown in Fig. 4, Therefore, when, the cover is placed upon the dispenser container as in Fig. 2, the interior of the container is effectively sealed against admission of moisture. A transverse member or strut 17 is carried by the band i5 and supports one end of a leaf spring 18 whose other end 19 is secured to the cover or top 13 at 20. When the cover is in place on the container the spring is under compression, and when the cover is released to be removed as in illing'the container with material to be dispensed, the compression of the spring 1S will serve to retain the cover in a position which will not hinder the filling of the container yet which will prevent tne cover from becoming entirely removed from the container.

I have provided means on the cover and the container for locking these two elements in closed position and to prevent or preclude unauthorized access to the interior of the container. This means may comprise an elongated member 21 secured to the cover or top 13 and having its lower portion formed into a partial loop 22, the extreme lower end of the member 21. being permanently secured to the cover flange as at 23. A similar member forming a partial loop at 24 is similarly mounted on the interior of the cover at a point substantially diametrically opposite to the member 2l.

The band l5 is provided with substantially diametrically opposed bayonet slots in that portion of the band which projects above the upper end walls of the container l. these bayonet slots being indicated at 25, The looped' portions 22 and 241i of the members 2i are adapted to enter the vertical portion of the bayonet slots when tie cover is fitted down over the band l5 and by turning the cover in a direction toward the left in Fig. 4 these looped portions will enter the horizontal portion of the bayonet slots where, by suitable means, the cover may be locked in this position against unauthorized removal.

The cross member or strut i7 carries a resilient loop formed of spring wire and indicated generally at 26. The loop comprises an inner key-engaging portion 27 and an outer bowed portion 2E which portions converge toward the end 29* of the loop which is positioned closely adjacent the bayonet slot which receives the partial loop 24 of the cover. A small opening 3d .is provided in the container through which a key 3l is adapted to be inserted so that the inner end of the key engage the portion 27 of the resilient loop and by applying an upward pressure on the outer end of the key the loop may be depressed out of locking engagement with the partial loop 24 of the member 2l.

The lower end of the dispensing container converges as heretofore mentioned to form a discharge end 32 of considerably less diameter than the diameter of the container Zi. Housed within the discharge end of the container is a fitting ot cylindrical cross section, which fitting is indicated at 33. The titting 33 is secured to the lower reduced end of the container l by any suitable means such as machine screws, press tting or the like 3f:- and provides an inner bore 35 in which suitable valve members are adapted to operate. The top end of the iitting 33 is provided with inclined inner walls 36 which in etifect form an extension of the inclined surfaces of the converging bottoni portion of the container' 3 thus providinsy a continuously inclined path for the materials to the bore The tting S3 extends below the lower extremities ot the container and may be externally threaded as at 36 to receive thereon a spout 37 as is more particularly illustrated in Fig. 2,

The spout 37 has an upper threaded portion by which the sani-e is secured in axial alignment with the container l, the lower end orp the spout converging downwardly from the threaded portion.

l provide an actuating rod which is disposed axially or the container and has an upper end portion il operating in an opening in the transverse member l?, there being a washer 42 and a cotter pin d3 provided to limit the downward movement of the actuating rod. A shoulder 39 is formed on the rod to limit upward movement of the rod. The lower end of the actuating rod is indicated at eid and extends through the bore 35 of the iitting through the spout 37 to a point below the opening ot the spout whereby the user may have access to the actuating rod for dispensing the powdered material as will be described more fully hereinafter. rl`he spout 37 not only serves to consolidate the downward new of the powdered material from the device but also acts as a protection against clogging of the material within the spout by preventing water from entering the spout while the de ice is in use.

The actuating rod is normally urged to its lowermost position by means of a coil spring i5 which lies along the rod as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the upper end of which abuts against the lower surface of the transverse member 17 while the lower end exerts a force ol compression against a hub member 46 which is provided with an opening having opposed dat sides 46 iitted over the upper end of a sleeve 47 which is provided with ilat faces 46".

The hub carries aplurality of agitating lingers 48 preferably Jformed of resilient Wire which are shaped to lie close to or in Contact and parallel with the downwardly converging inner walls of the container for a portion of their length. These lingers extend upwardly from such portion to a point at or above the converging bottom of the container and thus are thrust upwardly through the powdered mass when the actuator is pushed up, thereby tending to break up any compacting or arching of the material in the container. The hub 46 is urged downwardy by the spring to maintain it in engagement with a Cotter pin 'o'l passing through the sleeve 47 and rod lill. The sleeve 47 is for the remainder or its length externally threaded as at 5G and telescopes the actuating rod 4t? and is secured thereto against relative rotational or axial movement by means of the removable key or cotter pin Si.

in order that the iinely divided materials may be freely dispensed in predetermined charges through the spout 37, i provide a pair of relatively adjustable plungers 52 and 53 which are internally threaded to be mounted in spaced relation on the threaded portion of the sleeve 47.

The plunger 52 is generally truste-conical in cross scction, the base portion being disposed in the direction of the spout and terminating in a peripheral cutting edge 33. A pair of diametrically opposed notches 54 are provided which may be brought into register with the transverse diametrically opposed openings 5S passing through the depending portion of the fitting 33. When brought into alignment, a pin or other elongated tool may be inserted'through the openings 55 and the notches 54% and upon turning the operating rod and. the sleeve 47 which is keyed to it, the plunger 52 will be caused to move along the threaded portion oi the sleeve to a selected position, to vary the area ot the intake opening between the wall 3 and the adjacent wall of the plunger it will be noted that the circumferential walls 56 have sliding engagement with the internal walls defining the bore 35.

The plunger 53 which is internally threaded to be ad justably mounted on the threaded portion of the sleeve 47 may be adjusted independently of the plunger 52 along the threaded portion of the sleeve to a predetermined spaced relation with the plunger 52 thereby to provide a space for receiving powdered material from the container when the operating rod is pushed upwardly. Of course, the volume of powdered material passing around the plunger 52 and into the bore will be proportionate to the diameter of the bore and the distance between the two plungers 52 and 53. A locking nut 57 is provided on the lower end of the sleeve for locking the plunger 53 in its selected position upon the sleeve. By varying the distance between the plungers 52 and 53, the volume of powdered material may be increased or diminished as dered lt will be understood that each reciprocation of the operating rod causes the ingers to the powdered material in the lower part of the container and thus prevents it from clogging the passageway into the bore 35.

The device may be described as operating in the following manner: Assuming that the proper adiustment is rnade between the plungers 52 and 53, the user merely has to engage the lower end of the operating rod as at i4 and push upwardly on the same in an arial direction. in so doing, the plunger 52 will pass above the top of the bore "e" and the agitating device carried by the rod will also move upwardly and may even be caused to rotate thus agitating the mass of powdered material in the converging bottom of the container It and cause the desired flow downwardly into the bore 35 past the plunger 52 which is above the entrance to the bore and to be disposed upon the upper inclined face eil of the plunger 53 which when the rod lil is in an upper portion against the compression of the spring 45, is located within the bore, thus preventing the material from flowing directly out of the bore.

When the user releases the upward pressure on the lower end of the operating rod 44, the compression spring 45 will urge the entire rod and finger assembly together with the plungers quickly downwardly until the down limit of movement of the rod is reached, the circular cutting edge 38 passing the juncture of the inclined inner wall of the fitting 36 with the wall of the bore 33 in a shearing relationship through the material passing from the container to the bore 33. At this point, it will be observed that the side wall of the plunger 53 is below and beyond the confines of the bore providing a space between the inclined walls 60 and the wall of the bore between which the metered charge of material rnay be released into the spout from which it is directed into the hand of the user.

Various changes may be made in the arrangement of parts and details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for powdered or granular materials including a container for the materials terminating at its lower end in an outlet bore of less diameter than that of the container body, a plunger rod, a pair of relatively adjustable plungers on said rod and slidable within said bore, the wall of said bore having a radial opening therethrough, a radial notch in one of said plungers for alignment with said opening whereby a key or tool may be inserted to prevent relative circumferential motion between said wall and plunger when said other plunger is being adjusted axially on said rod.

2. A dispenser for powdered or granular materials including a container for the materials terminating at its lower end in an outlet bore of less diameter than that of the container body, a plunger rod, a pair of relatively adjustable plungers on said rod and slidable within said bore, the wall of said bore having a radial opening therethrough, a radial notch in one of said plungers for alignment with said opening whereby a key or tool may be inserted to prevent relative circumferential motion between said wall and plunger when said other plunger is being adjusted axially on said rod, and a material agitator means on said rod comprising a hub and a plurality of radially arranged resilient arms extending therefrom to engage and agitate the body of material in the bottom area of the container.

3. A dispenser for powdered or granular materials including a container for the materials terminating at its lower end in an outlet bore of less diameter than that of the container body, a plunger rod, a pair of relatively adjustable plungers on said rod and slidable within said bore, the wall of said bore having a radial opening therethrough, a radial notch in one of said plungers for alignment with said opening whereby a key or tool may be inserted to prevent relative circumferential motion between said wall and plunger when said other plunger is being adjusted axially on said rod, and a material agitator means on said rod comprising a hub and a plurality of radially arranged resilient arms extending therefrom to engage and agitate the body of material in the bottom area of the container, said arms each having a portion lying parallel with and engaging said inner container wall adjacent the outlet, and terminating in portions projecting into a mass of material above said outlet whereby to prevent arching or compacting of the material in the container.

4. A dispensing device for powdered or granular material comprising a container for the material to be dispensed, said container having an open top end and a bottom convergent portion terminating in a discharge opening, a cover removably secured on said open top end, means disposed axially of said container and cover and operable in said discharge opening for conveying a predetermined volume of the material through said discharge opening, a plurality of radially spaced resilient members having portions lying substantially parallel to and in sweeping engagement with the converging wall of said container bottom portion, said members being supported on said first means and movable therewith for agitating the material in the container simultaneously with a manipulation of said first means, cooperating means on said container top end and on said cover whereby said cover may be locked on said container against unauthorized removal, said cooperating means including a resilient arm supported at one end in the top open end of said container and having its other end disposed adjacent the top wall of the container, said top wall having a slot therein adjacent said other end of the resilient arm, and a locking member carried by the cover and adapted to enter said slot and to be removably retained therein by the adjacent end of said resilient arm when the cover is in locked position on said container.

5. A dispenser for powdered or granular materials including a container for the materials terminating at its lower end in an outlet bore of less diameter than that of the container body, a plunger rod, a pair of relatively adjustable plungers of hollow frusto-conical form spaced apart on said rod and slidable within said bore, the wall of said bore having a radial opening therethrough, a radial notch in one of said plungers for alignment with said opening whereby a key or tool may be inserted to prevent relative circumferential motion between said wall and plunger when said other plunger is being adjusted axially on said rod.

6. A dispenser for powdered or granular materials including 4a container for the materials terminating at its lower end in an outlet bore of less diameter than that of the container body, a plunger rod, a pair of relatively adjustable plungers on said rod and slidable within said bore, one of said plungers being of inverted hollow frustoconical form and having a lower base edge in sliding engagement with the inner wall of the bore, the wall of said bore having a radial opening therethrough, a radial notch in one of said plungers for alignment with said opening whereby a key or tool may be inserted to prevent relative circumferential motion between said wall and plunger when said other plunger is being adjusted axially on said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

